It's easy to get swept up in the speed of today's society. There's always something to do and if there isn't then all you've got to do is go out and buy it. We get wrapped up in worrying about what so-and-so said last week and what our grades will look like or what the boss is assigning you to do next week. All this worry and stress has us running at top speed until we collapse and we forget to stop and slow down.

Summer has arrived and that means warm weather, beach days, and finally getting to that stack of books on your dresser. For some it means new jobs, a continuation of work, or the stress of coming home. When we are not worrying about all the little parts of our lives, we are scrolling through social media sites on our smartphones, looking at what our friends are doing, searching for funny videos, or alleviating boredom. It's easy to miss the little things that make every day beautiful because we have grown accustomed to them. We take them for granted and forget to live in the moment

When we set aside our worries and pay more attention to the things around us, we notice more. At dinner, instead of sending pictures of your food to a friend, you might have an engaging conversation with your parents about who they want to vote for in the upcoming election. Instead of making a mental list of all the things you have to do, your walk might consist of noticing all the chipmunks that scamper across the sidewalk when they think you aren't looking. When we take the time to slow down and read the news while we drink our morning coffee, we might learn something new about the world. Regardless of how you choose to slow down, something beautiful may come of it.

When we slow down and absorb what is happening around us instead of rushing through life, we tend to spend more time taking care of ourselves. We notice that we can make time to make a healthy breakfast instead of stopping at the donut shop, or we notice that we would have more energy to run if we waited until the evening when it becomes cooler. When we are more in tune with our surroundings and ourselves, we can get more out of our day.

I guess my point is this: slow down. We, myself included, spend way too much time worrying about what's next and rushing through the long list of tasks to complete. I realized that I notice more when I am relaxed. As corny as I'm about to be, I notice how beautiful the places and people around me are when I take a minute to really process what I am seeing and doing. We can't just slow down: we have to pay attention. So what can you notice?